Tire-armor.



J. W CLONINGER.

TIRE ARMOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1914.

I gz a gayg Emma Aug. 3, 1915;

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wwm o I J Wclamkzgej' J W. CLONINGER.

TIRE ARE/10R.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. :2, 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' sum/who a i WUjolzmger UNITED sratrps PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN W. CLONINGER,

TIRE-Anatole To all wlimh. it may concern Be it known that 1, Jon) lV. CLONIXGER, citizen of the United States, residing at Pearl. in the county of Pike and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use-- tul Improvements in Tire-Armors; and do declare the following to be a full, clear, ind exact description of the invention, such as will, enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in vehicle tires and more particularly to armors and anti-skid devices therefor.

The main object of the invention, is to provide comparatively simple construction for etl ecti vel y guarding an automobile tire against injury from rocks or other obstructions in the road bed,

In carrying out the above object, a plurality of rings are provided which extend circumferentially around the tire, transverse spacing members being employed for holding said rings in fixed relation.

A. further object of the invention is to construct these spacing members in such a manner as to cause them to act simultaneously as fastening means for the rings and as road gripping blades for preventing skidding 0n muddy roads.

Other objects are to provide simple structure for spacing the numerous transverse spacing members circumierentially, and to form a simple but eilicient connection between the meeting ends of the armor, the

latter being constructed in the form of a spl it ring.

ith the above and minor objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figures 1 and '2 are respectively side and edge views of my improved armor applied to use upon an automobile tire; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitu inal section through a portion of the armor: 4' is a transverse section as seen on th plane of the line of Fig. 1'; Fig. is a similar view taken on the line of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is still another transversesection taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, an automobile wheel W is shown (in the firsttwo figures), said wheel being here shown as equipped with a com- Specification of Letters Patent.

OF PEARL, ILLINOIS.

Patented Au'g. '3, 1915.

Application filed November 12, 1514. Serial No. 871,725.

mon type of pneumatic tire T. It is the object" of the present invention, to shield this tire against injury. For carrying-out this purpose, I provide a number of transverse ,arched spacing members 1' which embrace the tread and sides of the tireand which are provided with outwardly projecting flanges 2 on their opposite edges, said flanges being provided with spaced openings, as shown. The inner ends of the members 1 are connected bya plurality of links 3, as clearly seen in Fig. 1, said links being pivoted to said inner ends.

It will be noted that two of the spacing members 1 are spaced approximately twice asfar as the remaining members, and that at this point transverse arches 4 and 5 are provided, the latter being connected to the adjacent member 1 by links 6, and having laterally extending studs 7, the latter projecting through openings in links 3"which- .connect the arch 4 with the adjacent spacing member 1, said links 3 being continued past their connections with saidjarch 4, as seen at 3", thereby forming eyes. For'the purpose of preventing the removal of the links 3 through said studs.

Interposed between the various transverse arched members above described, is an annular series of longitudinal spacing elements 9 whose opposite ends are provided with upturned perforated ears 10, the perforations in the latter alining with the central per-'- A device constructed, as above described,

operates to great advantage as an anti-skidding device for use on muddy roads, although a tire is not protected to a great extent against puncture by such construction; Therefore, it becomes expedient to provide other split rings 11 which likewise extend circumferentially around the tire and have their ends secured to the arches 4L and 5. These rings 11' may be spaced suitable distances or, if desired, may be disposed in contact with each other, the construction illustrated being preferable.

The rings 11 and 11' are constructed of spring steel wire, thereby allowing the same to yield inwardly as the tire yields, thus prefrom the studs 7, cotterpins 8 are passed I venting the resiliency of the latter from being decreased. It will be understood that the members 1, 4, and 5 are like-lee free to move inwardly, this being due to their link connections.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a comparatively simple armor has been provided, yet one which possesses a number of advantageous features.

I claim:

A tire armor comprising a plurality of transverse arched plates adapted toembraee a tire and to be spaced circumferentially thereon, lZPE IIlSVGISG flanges formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from the transverse edges of said plates, said flan having a series of circumferentially alined openings, and a plurality of spaced concentric rings encircling the arched plates and passing through the'openings in the flanges thereof, said rings constituting a tread for the tire, and the flanges acting as anti-skid members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN W. CLONINGER. \'\"itnesses".

J. O. CLONINGER, V. S. LOREMAN. 

